In a March 26 press release, the Indian missions in the US said that in order to ease the travel of OCI card holders, it has been decided that the “time line for re-issuance of OCI cards in r/o OCI card holders, who may be required to get their OCI card reissued has been extended until 31 December, 2021

As per existing instructions the Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder registration is required to be got re-issued each time a new passport is issued up to the age of 20 years and once after completing 50 years of age in view of biological changes in theface of the OCI cardholder.  With a view to avoid inconvenience to such OCI cardholders, it has been decided to grant extension of time till 30 June, 2021 to all eligible foreigners to get their OCI cards re-issued.

As per MHA’s extant guidelines regarding entry of OCI Cardholders in India, requirement of carrying old and new passports along with the OCI card has been done away. Henceforth, the OCI card holders travelling on the strenth of their existing OCI card bearing old passport number are not required to carry their old passport. However, carrying of new passport is mandatory. 

OCI card holders no longer required to carry old passports for India travel.

The Overseas Citizens of India or OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which gives them almost all the privileges of an Indian national except for the right to vote, government service and buying agricultural land. The OCI card gives them a visa free travel to India

The Indian government has relaxed the provisions since last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The timeline has been extended multiple times so far. However, this is for the first time that the guidelines have been relaxed for carrying old passports and the new passports along with the OCI cards for overseas Indians

New York-based social activist Prem Bhandari, who has been taking up the cause of OCI card holders for the past several years, welcomed the announcement. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of India for not only extending the renewal up to December 31 this year but also for relaxing the guidelines and not requiring OCI card holders to carry their old, expired foreign passports.“The OCI card holders can heave a sigh of relief worldwide,” with these new guidelines, he said. He expressed thanks to Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla for the new guidelines.